O’Neill, defending champion from New Zealand in 2011, did her very best to secure a medal throwing a season’s best in her fourth attempt with 5.51m. The event was won by Great Britain’s Josie Pearson.

Ireland’s youngest team member Heather Jameson also started her campaign in the semi-finals of the T37 Women's 200m.

Jameson, from Dublin, ran strongly to finish in a seasons best time of 32.16 leaving her outside the qualifying places for the final. She will be back in action in the Long Jump and 100m later in the week.

Her 2nd throw of 7.20m was enough for her to secure a place in the final eight athletes and secured three further throws. She couldn’t improve on her previous throw and finished a strong seventh position.

Barry will compete in the Discus final later in the week, the event in which she won a bronze medal at London 2012.